The Voice of the Martyrs' blog, sharing powerful stories and timely information that invites and inspires American Christians into fellowship with their persecuted family around the world.

July 31, 2009

Authorities Abolish House Church in Sichuan; Christians Request Prayer

SICHUAN – Authorities abolished the Christian Church of Huaguan Town,
a house church in Huaguan town,
Nanbu county,
Sichuan province,
and arrested three church members on June 29,
2009. Since then,
house church members have faced heavy persecution and are asking Christians around the world for prayer.

The church service started in 2002 in a member's house, and has been
gathering at a church building built with the help of Christians from
Zhejiang province since August 2006. On March 23, 2009 the church was
raided by six Public Security Bureau (PSB) and government officers who
confiscated both the property of the church and a check with more than
10,000 yuan which was the believers' offerings.

The PSB officers covered the Chinese characters “God Loves the
World" on the top of the gate with iron plates. Authorities accused the
Christians of being a cult, Falun Gong and a reactionary organization.

Three church leaders,
Mr. Chai Yongwen,
Ms.Yang Huimin and Mr. Ma Deyan,
were taken away for interrogation. Later,
Mr. Cai Yongwen received 15 days of administrative detention,
and Ms. Yang Huimin received five days of administrative detention.

The Christian Church of Huaguan Town sent a statement to the
international community in which they made the following request for
prayer, “We hereby request the brothers and sisters to pray for the
expansion of the Gospel in the disaster areas of Sichuan, and we
implore God to give us His wisdom and strength while dealing with these
rulers!”